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This is all the trappings of "Old man yells at cloud." Bobby, we get it, you don't like A&E and multi-key Going around and posting such across every dci forum thread is old already and doesn't serve to help your agenda

There is a video "out there" with a 3 second shot of my son right after he finished his last competitive performance. The range of emotions, from absolute joy to the realization that 7 years of marching drum corps was over... That's one of the moments I'll never forget from 2017.

If I lease a car to drive for three years I am not 'obligated' to drive it; but it would be foolish for me not to.

I liked a lot of BD's show. The starting line opener took me back to my first days in corps doing 8s & 8s. Hearing Jerry Seawright in the beginning and ending was truly emotional. I played Legend, so the snare opening was very cool, and then 16 snares, wow!. The tenor feature, front right, then the snares on stairs, and later the basses doing the split roll passage, all incredible.

Crossmen's French horn soloist... especially the tear coming down her cheek finals night.

I specifically choose the World Class forum in order to reach as much people as possible. The Stentors drum and bugle corps have launch their first annual donation campaign on August 13. The goal is simple: raise enough funds to replace aging instruments. While many may not know who are the Stentors or have never witness us live, we have the priviledge to be the sole Canadian representative in competition. We are also the smallest corps on the field (33 in 2017), with the smallest fees (700$ US), one of the longest DCI tour amongst our Open class peers (31 days last summer), we probably do it with the the smallest budget out there but also play with the oldest instrument! We are still using G bugles, many bought by Star of Indiana in the falls of 1984!!! We have been receive with enthousiasm everywhere we went last summer despite our small size and lower age of our members. As we are turning 30 in 2018, we launch our campaign 30 DAYS to raise 30 000$ for our 30th Anniversary. There is 2 weeks left and much more to raise to get to our goal. We pride ourself on being responsable and operate within our means. But with the raising cost of fuel, food, housing, and such, replacing instrument become a challenge that we can overcome with your help. Most people just follow the lead of the campaign and give 30$. Just imagine the 30 000 people attending championship, each giving 30$. What a difference it would make to us! It would not only replace aging instrument but give us the tools to grow every aspect of our operation, starting with the membership size! The link to the campaign is here and... it is in french! But I am sure everyone can understand all the necessary to fill up what is needed! If not, feel free to send an email or text me. It will be my pleasure to help you out step by step. https://www.gofundme.com/stentors-30-jours30-ans30-000 Together for our youth! Gabe Francoeur President Stentors Drum and Bugle Corps Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (819) 578-5008 gabriel.francoeur@videotron.ca

The way it ended was really magical, tailing off into dissonance. There was so much great design in that show. It makes me wonder just how much of their bag of tricks this design team put out there this year. They won't be sneaking up on anyone next year.

Eat More Chikn

Seriously, and I never thought I would say something like this, but one of my favorite moments was the Wicked Game vocal section. Does not change my opinion on despising 'adults' running the sound board, but that vocal section was beautifully done.

Oh brother

you seriously have issues. GH is just one member. Stop scapegoating him for every issue you have with modern drumcorps

Sigh -- This is DCP. There is a controversy lurking in every thread. How long before the Waffle Dinos assert the only REAL waffle is made from scratch -- Eggos need not apply? Then someone else posts that GH only eats waffles from Waffle House, which gets the Huddle House homers up in arms. No -- it's a can of worms I tell ya.

Yaaaaassss on the SCV "flag ensemble"

Oh, yes, SCV's massive synchronized flags at the end, shocking and awesome. In fact, I think I could list a half dozen more scenes in their show that had me mesmerized. Certainly their use of props was so smart, and truly helped tell their story. And they evolved the idea so effectively The subtlety and attention to detail of their design team is so amazing.

Yeah, I know. Not enough batter to finish The Wall. h/t Imgur comment

bingo bango bongo There have been a LOT of similarities in current years. Bloo out BDd BD this year and unfortunately it didn't work for them. But didn't we all still love that show?

You have no idea how wonderful and refreshing it is to read the words, 'being responsible and operate within our means', written by a DCI corps director!!! My prayer is that your campaign is so ever fruitful!!!

And if he hated Star, I'm sure he also really hated Spirit of Atlanta in the beginning when the corps had a corporate sponsor (the local ABC affiliate at the time) basically writing the corps a blank check each month. I'll say one thing, though. The affiliation with the TV station led to some pretty crazy fund-raising efforts. In late 1977, the station decided to throw a New Year's Eve party to raise money for the corps - rent a banquet hall, hire a band and sell tickets. Well, the station's marketing department took the idea and ran with it, and before we knew it, they had rented out a portion of the World Congress Center (the local convention hall), and hired the Charlie Daniels Band to play. Despite the high overhead, the party, which was called "SuperBall '78," made a decent amount of profit, which only emboldened the TV station to try to outdo themselves the following New Year's Eve. For Superball '79," the station rented out the ENTIRE convention center and hired a bunch of bands that, at the time, were major acts. The entertainment that night was Charlie Daniels Band, Little River Band, Ambrosia, Wet Willie and, get this, CHEECH & CHONG! Corps members were enlisted to work backstage that night, and I was assigned to Cheech & Chong's dressing room. Now THAT was an interesting night.

Bloo's wah-wah pedal on the end duet...AND the fact that no one tumbled down that ramp (scared the crap out of me all year). SCV's flag feature near the end....absolutely nails. Ending of BAC And of course...in first place....

Though some judges feel that the last comments when they judge a corps for the season always have to be unicorns and stardust as if they won't be hired the next year. But we all know that is not the standard used. Or is it? The new Artistic Director, caption head, and chief judge will have to work on this faux communication style over the winter. Points on tape and points on sheet should match otherwise it is all pointless.

She was great! I'm a big fan!

The montage he posted has lots of world class corps.

I thought she got better as the season went on and can only hope they use the Thursday night show for DVD/CD. (I assume there were no issues). Look, I at first did not care for the vocalist but she grew on me. Like how they added more color for her as well with the green/multi color dress. I think it was also a great decision to let her hair down, she is a beautiful young lady for sure. I hope they do go back to a all brass show, but I have listened to their show just as much the past two weeks as any other, so for me I appreciated their design this year.

I hope and pray the activity can embrace or at least support everything from Bernstein to Mad Max. The difficult thing is, if you do Bernstein, imho you have to trust your design and the audience, and embrace subtlety and nuance. Not exactly strong points for GH. But even though my favorite corps and recent shows are Bluecoats, I refuse to give up on classical concepts. They just need to be done in a way that is respectful to the medium.

Thank you all for the responses! I will definitely look into all of those. I'm open to open and world class; I know each group has its own unique experience available and I'd be blessed to be a part of any one of them! Thanks to all of you again!

There seems to be a feeling that woodwinds are inevitable in drum corps...As a fan of drum corps this would be the proverbial straw that would break this camel's back...I enjoy drum corps but the more it morphs, losing it's uniqueness, leaves me less passionate about the activity...All brass please!!!You have synth's that reproduce everything else so why consider woodwinds..Drum corps for me is a steak from Peter Luger's..add woodwinds and it becomes a Nathan's hot dog.JMO

Looks like Govies right now in Class A but wouldn't know where Cinn ,Tradistion falls in till prelmni;s Sunrisers ,Hurricanes ,and Skyliners all in same show tomorrow night,Should be good show down there .Bucs seem to have a good lead ,but will face most corps tomorrow night .And i'm sure everyone will do there best to get the seed there looking for .And Carolina Gold in Reading should show where they fall in line ,So safe travels to all corps tomorrow bring it on.

Aiming for some that haven't been mentioned: Troopers opening trumpet solo. Vanguard's synchronized flags in the closer. Madison's quickly disappearing fleur; look for it on high cam view. Cavies massive rifle toss in the closer.

Crossmen, Genesis, and Guardian favorite

There was one point at the end of SCV where they roll the props with the ensemble in them and JP was in a FULL OUT SPRINT to avoid getting run over by one of those wheels.

If Cadets have permission to use Leonard Bernstein's music for next year and donot take advantage of using it during the centennial celebration of his birth, it would be a missed opportunity.

I also liked watching Jeff Prosperie judge on-field percussion on Finals night. I was close enough that at times I could lip read what he was saying. I like the fact that the dude, while being likely the best percussion judge in the activity, also just enjoys what the kids are doing in the moment. Seeing him say stuff like, "WOW!!!" "That was AMAZING!!!" or just having a huge grin on his face as if saying, "Yeah, that was cool!" There were also plenty of times where he was moving around quickly, and down in what looked like a basketball defensive stance, as if he was trying to stop LeBron James from getting to the basket.

Only if one wants every corps to mimic Bloo does Bernstein become a restriction. And proposed changes from the next Rules Congress in January may restrict A&E to give emphasis back to the performers rather than the designers and sound board adult. No where has it been publicly said that Cadets have to do a Bernstein show; it is presumed because they have permission. It is presumed because as of now they are going to do concerts with the New York Philharmonic in Central Park in June. But few of these aspects are irretrievably written in stone. Let the season develop before announcing the patient is dead. Cadets in the early 90's did various songs from Bernstein which generated lots of audience and young folk appeal. Why be the nay sayer? They could do a few whole shows of Bernstein music yet to hit a marching field. Be surprised.

Blue Devils ballad. Can't ever get enough of it. Bluecoats first whole corps swag on the stage at the beginning, the giant rotating circle before the ballad, and the ending. In fact, maybe my favorite part of the season was seeing the kids grinning and cheering after the show ended. SCV opening, center ripple drill, and the ending. Blue Knights snare solo and their trademark rotating box drill. Also loved the use of gymnastics on the drum major stands during the open. Cadets uniforms. Yeah, I know. edit: Boston Wicked Game ballad, uniforms, and the subtle way they moved your visual attention around the field. There were things I liked in almost all of the shows, but these stick out for me.

I've begun packing today. I'm bringing a rain poncho and umbrella so that guarantees no rain.

IMO - As with vocals and voice, I see no value to adding wood winds. Other than something else to distract from the uniqueness that has made drum corps special. Sometimes you have to ask what makes this activity special? If there's nothing that separates drum corps from marching band except for fees, auditions and touring, why would anyone pay to be apart of it when it cost practically nothing to be in the local high school or university marching band? There are already plenty of successful band circuits.

Often overlooked because it followed the god-like ballad, but BD's blob form where everyone rocked back and forth with one single member staring up at the audience during the intro to the drum break was awesome.

The Wife LOVED BD's entry onto the field. They performed it VERY well.

I'm confident every corps will try to move ahead positions and finish as high as possible.

Which is slightly more popular than the title, "Covfefe: Music to heel the savage beest."

I will be completely honest with you guys, after listening to this hornline in spring training, I wasn't sure that they would win the Ott. But these kids worked their butts off and turned this into one of the best lines Crown has had ever. Just an absolutely amazing story!

Does anyone else remember a few years back when California Corps (inc BD & SCV) were bemoaning a change in CA law that was going to negatively impact (or stop) their bingo revenues? I guess that didn't happen, or at least not as bad as feared.

If something goes wrong that is the staff's fault or, probably in Crown's case, nobody's fault, I think it depends on your philosophy on what DCI is/should be. Semi-Professional Touring Broadway-esque Competition: Huge obvious detraction from the music and effect of the show... Hose 'em. Youth Marching Experience Competition: Ignore obvious uncontrollable issue and focus on the actual kids' achievement the best you can. Maybe this distinction should be made between World and Open Classes?

SCV would probably say 12. LOL

I agree that 'when they get it right' it's awesome, but I also agree with Bobby Collins, it's been a long time since it's happened. Don't get me wrong, percussion lines have come a LONG way however, IMO, at the expense of brass lines.

Proof? Source?

And that kick### drill too.

I so much preferred the dark ending. In the context of the Spaghetti Western, it just made so much more sense. Crown, though, is incredibly risk-averse when it comes to unhappy endings to their stories. Major Tom made it home, Hell gave way to Paradise, the son spared the killer... (And just to harken back a couple of pages, the brass runs in the closer of OOTW were fantastic and spectacular and I wanted even *more* of it!) Mike

I will never criticize any corps. It is human nature to like certain things and dislike certain things. One thing I will never do is be negative to a corps. If I am not enthralled with a show. I keep it to myself. I , to be honest was not a huge fan early on of this years Crown. After seeing them thru the season, All I can say is, WOW. One of the GREATEST horn lines ever. The show has and continues to grow on me. I can get by the vocal mishap. Does not take away the brilliance. Were they clean marching........... they could have been cleaner. That said, this corps, as they have already proven will continue to be a monster.

This is a very stable and creative staff. I am sure they learned a couple of things this year ... they experimented with a guard and movement concept that pleased the crowds but not so much the judges. I am very confident they will come out with something new and amazing again next year that will please the fans ... and maybe even the judges, too!